In a recent social media post, the Sanford Police Department warned of scam tactics that were reported in September, with scammers frequently using threats, fake emergencies, and demands for quick payment to scare victims into falling for the scam.
- Online dating: Someone using the Plenty of Fish dating app claimed to have been arrested in Turkey and asked a resident for money and banking information. The resident provided neither, blocked the person, and reported the incident.
- Explicit images: Another incident involved threats to have explicit images sent to the victim’s social media contacts unless they paid. The resident said the pictures were images from Google, not personal photos. No money was sent, and the number was blocked.
- Gift cards: A resident reported losing nearly $3,000 in gift cards after scammers accused them of purchasing illegal material and demanded payment.
- Identity theft: A resident reported that someone had attempted to obtain a loan in their name in Maryland. The resident had already contacted a credit bureau and came to the police for a report requested by their bank.
- Suspicious links, fake technical support: Another incident involved a resident who received repeated demands for money after clicking on a suspicious link; however, no financial loss was reported. Another encountered a phone warning with loud sirens and called a displayed number claiming to be Microsoft support. The person answering made claims about hacking and felony charges. No information was provided to the scammer.
- CMP impersonation: A caller claiming to be from CMP threatened to shut off a resident’s power within an hour unless they paid $2,000 in cash. The resident contacted CMP directly and confirmed the account was in good standing. No money was paid.
- Rental scam: A resident searching for an apartment reported concerns about someone offering a rental. The information available did not establish whether the offer was fraudulent.
SPD noted that these scams are designed to catch people off guard. Take a moment, ask questions, and verify who the caller is. If something feels wrong, reach out to the department and ask for help or report what happened.
The post Pressure to act quickly is a common thread in September’s scam reports appeared first on Sanford Springvale News.
